2. 3. 4. 5. 6. I have thought, A brother's and a sister's love was much. For a fond father', gushing as it does Must be holier! The wind bore on The leaden tramp of thousands. Clarion notes Jephthah led his warriors on Through Mizpeh's streets. His helm was proudly set', He led on; but thoughts Seemed gathering round which troubled him. The veins He dared not meet, were there. His home was near, They have in human passions, to observe The struggle of his feelings with his pride. He gazed intently forward. A moment more', And he had reached his home; when lo! there sprang One with a bounding footstep', and a brow Like light, to meet him. O how beautiful! Her dark eye flashing like a sun-lit gem, 7. As if the sight had withered him. She threw She knew that he was stricken, then; and rushed Again into his arms, and with a flood Of tears she could not stay, she sobbed a prayer Shot o'er her countenance: and then', the soul 8. And when the sun had sēt, Thēn shē wās dēad—but nōt by violence. XL.-TREASURES OF THE DEEP. FROM MRS. HEMANS. 1. WHAT hidest thou in thy treasure caves and cells, We ask not such from thee'. 2. Yet more, thy depths have more !-What wealth untold, Far down, and shining through their stillness, lies? Thou hast the starry gems, the burning gold, Won from ten thousand royal argosies. Sweep o'er thy spoils, thou wild and wrathful main'! Earth claims not these again. 3. Yet more, thy depths have more! Thy waves have rolled Above the cities of a world gone by! Sand hath filled up the palaces of old: Sea-weed o'ergrown the halls of revelry: Dash o'er them', ocean, in thy scornful play! Man yields thêm to decay. 4. Yet more thy billows and thy depths have more`! The battle thunders will not break their rest. 5. Give back the lost and lovely! those, for whom The place was kept at board and hearth so long, XLI.-BATTLE IN HEAVEN. FROM MILTON. JOHN MILTON, the acknowledged prince of British poets, was born in Tondon, in 1608. In early life, he was a diligent student, and before he ttained the age of seventeen, knew six languages almost as familiarly s his own. His immortal poem, the Paradise Lost, was written after he was stricken with blindness. In the latter part of his life he lived in retirement, and died in 1674. This lesson is adapted to the cultivation of a low tone. 1. To whom in brief thus Abdiel stern replied: 2. So saying, a noble stroke he lifted high, 3. Which hung not, but so swift with tempest fell Now storming fury rose 4. Of brazen chariots raged: dire was the noise Long time in even scale The battle hung; till Satan, who that day Saw where the sword of Michael smote, and felled In horror: from each hand with speed retired, Should combat, and their jarring spheres confound. * Observe the improper pronunciation of the word "aspect," required by the poetic accent. In this case, an equal degree of force may be given to each syllable., XLII.-PAUL'S DEFENSE BEFORE KING AGRIPPA. FROM THE BIBLE. [THIS should be read in a medium tone, between high and low.] 1. THEN said Agrippa unto Paul: Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth his hand and answered for himself. 2. I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself, this day, before thee, touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews'; especially, because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently. My manner of life from my youth', which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem', know all the Jews; who knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the straitest sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee. 3. And now, I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers'; unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa', I am accused of the Jews. Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead? I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which things I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests, and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. 4. And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and, being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities. Whereupon, as I went to Damascus, with authority and commission from the chief priests, at midday, O King', I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue', Saul', Saul', why persecutest thou me'? it is hard |